Springtime has arrived in full force here in Colorado.  In typical Rocky Mountain fashion we’ve had several days of 80 degree temperatures followed by snow.  What is Springtime like where you live??  Are the trees budding and flowers popping up yet?

Our local Farmer’s Market started again on the 4th. The Farmer’s Market coming back always reminds me that summer is coming with lots of time outside, flip flops and delicious fresh produce.  Spring and Summer also make it much easier to eat Zero Waste.  No more buying frozen veggies- the fresh ones are available again! Fresh peaches replace canned, cherries come back, fresh leafy green grace our plates instead of coming from plastic boxes, and we get to used fresh herbs again instead of dried!

Early season Farmer’s Markets are also the perfect place to scope out local farms to join a CSA.  This week we’ll take a look at what a CSA is and why joining one can help you reduce your impact!

CSA stands for Community Supported Agriculture.  Simply put, when you join a CSA you are purchasing a share of the harvest.  You’ll then get to pickup your share on a regular basis throughout the season.  Seasons vary depending on where you live but most CSAs are at least 18 weeks long and go longer in more temperate climates.  Many producers offer winter or year-round CSA shares as well.  Joining a CSA helps ensure that your favorite local farm has enough capitol to plant their produce and helps you support the local economy.  Produce in the grocery store typically has traveled at least 250 miles to make it to the store!!  Supporting a CSA helps reduce your carbon footprint by traveling just a few miles to get your produce.  CSA pick-up will usually occur at the farm, the Farmer’s Market or at a member’s home.

Members of a CSA are taking on part of the risk for the season.  We’ve been with a couple different farms for almost a decade.  Colorado has seen our share of droughts and late frosts in recent years.  When these happen we might get a little less produce but on good years we get enough that we can freeze and lactoferment enough for winter!  Last year we hardly had to buy and veggies at all over the winter because we had so much extra from our CSA!  If you’re on a tight budget most CSAs will offer a “working share” where you get to help work on the farm or help with distribution in exchange for a discount.  

Typically a CSA will be veggies or fruits, however a number of unique CSA models are cropping up around the country.  This year we’ve joined a chicken CSA which will provide us with eggs and meat every month.  There are also CSAs for herbs, dairy, honey, flowers, tea, fish, meat, eggs, potted plants, and even herbal and homeopathic remedies and products!  Typically a CSA “box” will be pre-selected by the CSA but there are some market-style CSA options where you get a certain amount to “spend” each week and you get to come to the farm and choose exactly what you want.  

Benefits of joining a CSA include:

Flower CSA!

Flower CSA!

  • Getting to know your farmer!
  • Taking your children to the farm every week to see where and how food is grown
  • Community events sponsored by the CSA (many do a harvest meal for all members)
  • Nutrient dense foods
  • Reducing your carbon footprint
  • Huge discount on produce vs what you would spend in the grocery store (especially if it’s an especially great growing season)
  • Connecting to the seasons and seasonally available foods
  • Reusing your packaging or no packaging at all (many CSAs will take back the items they package food in each week if they use any at all)
  • Access to other local food producers
  • Understanding how milk, eggs, and produce change depending on the time of year
  • Less time in the grocery store
  • The chance to try new foods (I had no idea what kholrabi was until I joined a CSA- it’s my favorite veggie now!)

 

 

Interested in giving a CSA a try?  Check out Local Harvest’s CSA locator to find one near you or ask your favorite farm at the Farmer’s Market if they have a CSA option.  

Do you belong to a CSA?  If not, are you interested in trying one now? Let me know in the comments below or email me at blog@keeper.com and let me know! 

 Enjoy your tasty, fresh food!
~Olivia

 

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Olivia lives in Boulder, Colorado with her husband and 4 year old son.  She enjoys spending time in the mountains, studying about essential oils, natural remedies and herbs, as well as upcycling/ DIY projects.  Olivia’s family made the move last year towards becoming a Zero Waste household.  They have gotten down to one bathroom sized trashcan a month of garbage but hope to be totally Zero Waste by the end of 2015.
Like this?  Check out the rest of our Waste Less and Be Green in 2015 series for more tips!
3 Responses to Waste Less and Be Green in 2015- Week 16
  1. Currently i am not part of a CSA but Hopefully when i find out where we are going i can join one, or at least find a farmers market. When i lived in Louisiana i always begged my husband to tale me to the farmers market and he never would

  2. We’re lucky to have so many options for CSAs here in the Chicago area. We’ve tried a few focused just on organic vegetables (though meat, honey, etc. . . are available here,too) and have found that using one where we can pick up at our local farmer’s market works best. This way we can see what we have & supplement immediately!

  3. I am not currently part of a CSA, but I would really like to join one that offers fruits and vegetables. I need to take time to pick one to join.


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